Andrew D. Tharp

Andrew D.

Tharp

Overview

Andrew has extensive litigation experience, having sat first or second chair in more than 35 trials.  He represents individuals and companies, from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, in high stakes litigation. 

About

Andrew is a trial lawyer who has been recognized by Super Lawyers® as a Mid-South Rising Star. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, and he has also handled fact, company, and expert witness depositions for hundreds of cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation. Andrew assisted the trial team in obtaining a unanimous defense verdict following a four-week trial in the first bellwether case in New Jersey Tylenol liver injury litigation, and he obtained a defense verdict as the first chair defense attorney in a defamation trial involving a Metropolitan Nashville Government employee.  He has represented a wide array of clients, from pharmaceutical and medical device companies, to large grocery store chains, to aviation schools.

Andrew served in the United States Air Force as an Area Defense Counsel (2013-2015) and Assistant Staff Judge Advocate (2010-2013). During his time with the Air Force, he represented more than 800 clients in federal investigations and disciplinary actions. He was also the Lowry Award winner of the 2010 Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course. The award recognizes the JAG who best exemplifies officership, esprit de corps, service before self, and integrity.

Andrew actively participates in developing content for Pro Te: Solutio, the firm’s publication for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and health care industries. In 2020, he co-authored a 50-State “Heeding Presumption” survey, as well as a diversity roundtable article based on his discussions with in-house counsel from several pharmaceutical and medical device companies.  He also authored an article for DRI’s The Whisper in 2016 providing five tips to maximize the impact of cross-examinations. Andrew is a member of the Defense Research Institute, and he is Chair of the American Bar Association’s Mass Torts Committee. He is active in his community as a youth soccer and basketball coach, and he serves on the board of Saint Matthew School.

Andrew obtained his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Toledo and B.S., cum laude, from Bowling Green State University.  He is admitted to practice in Tennessee, all federal courts in Tennessee, and the United States Supreme Court.

Experience

  • Extensive litigation experience with more than 35 federal trials.
  • Represented more than 800 clients in federal investigations and disciplinary actions.
  • Lead defense counsel in defamation trial involving Metropolitan Nashville Government employee.
  • Part of trial team representing large grocery store chain in federal court case involving the alleged wrongful death of a child.
  • Part of trial team representing aviation school in federal court case involving breach of confidentiality agreements and trademark violations.
  • Part of trial team representing commercial interior design business in state court case involving fraud and misappropriation.
  • Part of trial team defending large physicians services group in state court case involving alleged medical malpractice.
  • Assisted in case workup (fact/company/expert witness depositions) for hundreds of cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation, In Re Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices and Product Liability Litigation (E.D. Pa.).
  • Assisted in case workup (fact/company/expert witness depositions) for hundreds of cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation, In Re Ethicon, Inc. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation (S.D. W.Va.).
  • Assisted the trial team in the first bellwether case in New Jersey Tylenol liver injury litigation. Unanimous defense verdict following four-week trial.

Distinctions

  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Rising Star, Personal Injury – Products: Defense, 2021-2023
  • Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
  • Area Defense Counsel, United States Air Force, 2013-2015
  • Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, United States Air Force, 2010-2013
  • Lowry Award Winner, Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course, 2010

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee, 2010
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Tennessee: Eastern, Middle, Western
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces
    • Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • University of Toledo, J.D., cum laude, 2010
    • Key Bank Willis Trust Scholarship Recipient
    • Business Law Society Officer and Executive Board
  • Bowling Green State University, B.S., cum laude, 2007
    • Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
    • 4-Year Colonel's Leadership Scholarship Recipient
    • Top Gun of Distinguished Graduates – Field Training, 2005

Associations

  • American Bar Association, 2010-Present
    • Litigation Section, 2015-Present
      • Mass Torts Committee
        • Vice Chair, 2020-2022
        • Chair, 2022-Present
      • Social Media Committee, 2021-2022
  • Tennessee Bar Association, 2015-Present
  • Nashville Bar Association, 2015-Present
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI), 2015-Present
    • Young Lawyers Steering Committee, 2016-2019

Papers, Presentations & Publications

Civic Involvement

  • Saint Matthew Catholic School Board
    • Board Member, 2021-Present
    • Vice Chair, 2021-2022
    • Chair, 2022-Present
  • YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Soccer Coach, 2016-2021
  • Brentwood Ball Club, Basketball Coach, 2018-2020

Andrew D.

Tharp

Overview

Andrew has extensive litigation experience, having sat first or second chair in more than 35 trials.  He represents individuals and companies, from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, in high stakes litigation. 

About

Andrew is a trial lawyer who has been recognized by Super Lawyers® as a Mid-South Rising Star. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, and he has also handled fact, company, and expert witness depositions for hundreds of cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation. Andrew assisted the trial team in obtaining a unanimous defense verdict following a four-week trial in the first bellwether case in New Jersey Tylenol liver injury litigation, and he obtained a defense verdict as the first chair defense attorney in a defamation trial involving a Metropolitan Nashville Government employee.  He has represented a wide array of clients, from pharmaceutical and medical device companies, to large grocery store chains, to aviation schools.

Andrew served in the United States Air Force as an Area Defense Counsel (2013-2015) and Assistant Staff Judge Advocate (2010-2013). During his time with the Air Force, he represented more than 800 clients in federal investigations and disciplinary actions. He was also the Lowry Award winner of the 2010 Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course. The award recognizes the JAG who best exemplifies officership, esprit de corps, service before self, and integrity.

Andrew actively participates in developing content for Pro Te: Solutio, the firm’s publication for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and health care industries. In 2020, he co-authored a 50-State “Heeding Presumption” survey, as well as a diversity roundtable article based on his discussions with in-house counsel from several pharmaceutical and medical device companies.  He also authored an article for DRI’s The Whisper in 2016 providing five tips to maximize the impact of cross-examinations. Andrew is a member of the Defense Research Institute, and he is Chair of the American Bar Association’s Mass Torts Committee. He is active in his community as a youth soccer and basketball coach, and he serves on the board of Saint Matthew School.

Andrew obtained his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Toledo and B.S., cum laude, from Bowling Green State University.  He is admitted to practice in Tennessee, all federal courts in Tennessee, and the United States Supreme Court.

Experience

  • Extensive litigation experience with more than 35 federal trials.
  • Represented more than 800 clients in federal investigations and disciplinary actions.
  • Lead defense counsel in defamation trial involving Metropolitan Nashville Government employee.
  • Part of trial team representing large grocery store chain in federal court case involving the alleged wrongful death of a child.
  • Part of trial team representing aviation school in federal court case involving breach of confidentiality agreements and trademark violations.
  • Part of trial team representing commercial interior design business in state court case involving fraud and misappropriation.
  • Part of trial team defending large physicians services group in state court case involving alleged medical malpractice.
  • Assisted in case workup (fact/company/expert witness depositions) for hundreds of cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation, In Re Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices and Product Liability Litigation (E.D. Pa.).
  • Assisted in case workup (fact/company/expert witness depositions) for hundreds of cases in mass tort, federal multidistrict litigation, In Re Ethicon, Inc. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation (S.D. W.Va.).
  • Assisted the trial team in the first bellwether case in New Jersey Tylenol liver injury litigation. Unanimous defense verdict following four-week trial.

Distinctions

  • Super Lawyers®
    • Mid-South Rising Star, Personal Injury – Products: Defense, 2021-2023
  • Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
  • Area Defense Counsel, United States Air Force, 2013-2015
  • Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, United States Air Force, 2010-2013
  • Lowry Award Winner, Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course, 2010

Bar Admissions

  • Tennessee, 2010
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Tennessee: Eastern, Middle, Western
  • U.S. Court of Appeals
    • Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces
    • Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Education

  • University of Toledo, J.D., cum laude, 2010
    • Key Bank Willis Trust Scholarship Recipient
    • Business Law Society Officer and Executive Board
  • Bowling Green State University, B.S., cum laude, 2007
    • Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
    • 4-Year Colonel's Leadership Scholarship Recipient
    • Top Gun of Distinguished Graduates – Field Training, 2005

Associations

  • American Bar Association, 2010-Present
    • Litigation Section, 2015-Present
      • Mass Torts Committee
        • Vice Chair, 2020-2022
        • Chair, 2022-Present
      • Social Media Committee, 2021-2022
  • Tennessee Bar Association, 2015-Present
  • Nashville Bar Association, 2015-Present
  • Defense Research Institute (DRI), 2015-Present
    • Young Lawyers Steering Committee, 2016-2019

Papers, Presentations & Publications

Civic Involvement

  • Saint Matthew Catholic School Board
    • Board Member, 2021-Present
    • Vice Chair, 2021-2022
    • Chair, 2022-Present
  • YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Soccer Coach, 2016-2021
  • Brentwood Ball Club, Basketball Coach, 2018-2020